U.S. Narrative Feature Films can be of any genre except Animation, Conservation, Documentary or Horror (please submit to those specific categories). The total running time should be between 50 minutes or more. The submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction and/or docu-drama (including mockumentary, but not documentary), and at least half of the project's financing must originate from within the United States. U.S. Narrative Feature Films that have previously played at other festivals anywhere in the world are eligible for our competition, but World, USA, West Coast and Los Angeles Premieres are preferred. U.S. Narrative Films that have been exhibited theatrically, been broadcast on television or the Internet, or released via any home video or other distribution platform including, but not limited to, DVD, Blu-ray or video on demand, are not eligible for the Festival.

U.S. Short Films can be of any genre except Animation, Conservation, Documentary or Horror (please submit to those specific categories). In order to qualify as a U.S. Short Film, at least half of the submitted project's financing must originate from within the United States. Short Films have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions, but cannot be available online for free or for purchase before or during festival exhibition dates. The total running time should be no greater than 25 Minutes.

Submissions to this category are for HIGH SCHOOL students of any age that have a qualifying project shot while they were in HIGH SHCOOL (or international equivalent). Film Students and Masters Program students have the option to submit in our regular film categories as well, but must submit to that specific category, not as a student, and not in both categories for the same project. (Filmmakers under 18 years of age must have film submitted by a parent or guardian.) Films of any length accepted.

By submitting to this category, it understood that you are still within the learning process of your career ambitions and are not considered a film professional within the industry.

CFF is proud to focus on a separate series of films within the festival that are dedicated to conservation. Along with our beneficiary, the Catalina Island Conservancy, the CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL wants to honor those filmmakers that are dedicated to nurturing their goal of protecting, restoring, and experiencing the power of nature.

This category is for worldwide (Domestic AND International) non-fiction films of any length and topic, except conservation issues or themes, those documentary films should be submitted to our specific "Conservation Series" category of films.

This FEATURE FILM Script contest will award an outstanding screenplay that fully exemplifies a well-rounded and entertaining FEATURE story that is poised to be the next "green-lit" feature film in Hollywood. It will be read by professional script-readers with a discriminating eye for plotline, structure, and marketability. You must submit with the intent of putting it into consideration with prominent film professionals eager to find their next project. This is open to screenwriters worldwide, but must be submitted in English to qualify.

Our Animation category is designed to honor, celebrate and promote all types of animated films and filmmakers to our Hollywood audience. Past presenters to this categories top prize have been Stan Lee and other luminaries from Hollywood's animation studios.

Legendary filmmaker WES CRAVEN chooses the annual winner of our Best Horror Film with our "Wes Craven Award". Our island's mysterious past is calling for your project. Become a part of our esteemed history and folklore.

Submissions to this category are for Advanced Film students of any age that have a qualifying project shot while they were in College, University, Film Institute, Masters Film Program (or post-high school or international equivalent). Film Students and Masters Program students have the option to submit in our regular film categories as well, but must submit to that specific category, not as a student, and not in both categories for the same project. (Filmmakers under 18 years of age must have film submitted by a parent or guardian.) Films of any length accepted.

By submitting to this category, it understood that you are still within the learning process of your career ambitions and are not considered a film professional within the industry.

International Narrative Feature Films can be of any genre except Animation, Conservation, Documentary or Horror (please submit to those specific categories). The total running time should be between 50 minutes or more. The submitted project must be either scripted or improvisational fiction and/or docu-drama (including mockumentary, but not documentary), and at least half of the project's financing must originate from outside the United States. International Narrative Feature Films that have previously played at other festivals anywhere in the world are eligible for our competition, but World, USA, and Los Angeles Premieres are preferred. International Narrative Films that have been exhibited theatrically, been broadcast on television or the Internet, or released via any home video or other distribution platform including, but not limited to, DVD, Blu-ray or video on demand, are not eligible for the Festival.

International Short Films can be of any genre except Animation, Conservation, Documentary or Horror (please submit to those specific categories). In order to qualify as an International Short Film, at least half of the submitted project's financing must originate from outside the United States. Short Films have no premiere requirements or prior screening restrictions, but cannot be available online for free or for purchase before or during festival exhibition dates. The total running time should be no greater than 25 Minutes.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
Our non-profit mission on California's only resort island (right here in Los Angeles County) is to help educate, celebrate and promote our filmmakers to the Los Angeles arts and entertainment community, but also to help support the local community of Catalina (“Hollywood’s Island”) with all of its rich cinema history and protected beauty.

Through our screenings, industry panels and networking events, the festival attendees are exposed to the Hollywood experience through a wide spectrum of film, industry meetings and interactions. Separate from our main film competitions, and along with our beneficiary the Catalina Island Conservancy, we also have special honors for filmmakers dedicated to conservation who are nurturing their goal of protecting, restoring, and experiencing the power of nature.

Our festival mission is designed to help create a platform for the filmmakers to be seen, but more importantly, to help get them the industry exposure they will need to help sustain their craft for many years to come.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Hosted only 22 miles off the coast, right on Los Angeles County’s famous and historic “Island To The Stars”, CFF is one of the world’s premier film events!

The clear blue water around this sub-tropical island is right in Hollywood’s backyard with all its majestic beauty and rich iconic cinematic history. Catalina is where Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille all screened the first “talkie” films in the world’s first-ever sound movie theatre (an 1,184-seat movie palace) inside the world famous Avalon Casino building. This exotic island has been entertaining Hollywood’s elite for over 100 years, as Catalina was once home to Marilyn Monroe, hosted 30 years of spring training for baseball’s Chicago Cubs (where sportscaster Ronald Reagan was discovered by Warner Brothers), and has been the Southern California vacation spot for all of yesterday’s and today’s stars; from Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Orson Welles, Natalie Wood, Errol Flynn, Mickey Rooney, Winston Churchill, Jane Mansfield, Harrison Ford, Barbara Streisand, Katy Perry, Ryan Gosling, Sharon Stone, Robert Downey, Jr., Kate Bosworth, Leonardo DiCaprio, William H. Macy, Andy Garcia, Roman Coppola, Emmy Rossum and many more.

There are numerous yacht services and ferries that will take you from Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties, as well as helicopter and airplane rides that take only 15 minutes from the mainland. Once on the island, you will feel like you left the United States for an exotic destination; but remember, you're still in Los Angeles County!

ORGANIZERS
Karyl Johnson (Film Liaison)
; Xiomara Ferretti

GENERAL RULES
CATALINA FILM FESTIVAL, INC.
Revised December, 2014

LENGTH: These running times must be inclusive of all titles and credits:

Short Films: 1-25 minutes
Feature Films: 50-180 minutes

STUDENT FILMMAKERS (Any aged person attending a film school, institute, academy, or program that their project is a result of). Please indicate the ages of the film's writer, director, and producer in your submission. Student filmmakers have the right to submit their film into any of the non-student film categories. If so, you will have to pay the full price for that category and agree to compete against professional filmmakers within that respective category.

FILMMAKERS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD: You must have a parent or legal guardian submit the film on your behalf to qualify.

DEADLINES: Deadlines are firm, so please send us your project within 14 days of submission and payment. Please contact us if this is a problem and/or you need extra time. If submitting to our very Last Deadline for entries, you must send your project within 7 days of payment (without any possible extensions) or it will run the risk of not being reviewed and considered.

SUBMISSION FORMAT:

WE PREFER SECURE ONLINE SUBMISSIONS IN HIGH DEFINITION. Not only is this a more environmentally friendly method for us, but it also allows your film to be reviewed by our screeners/reviewers as quickly as possible. Most filmmakers prefer this method for its cost-effectiveness, but more importantly, so we can see your projects in High Definition (if you shot in HD) rather than submitting a Standard Definition version of your project.

If not digitally sent through Withoutabox.com or some other acceptable secure online screening format, all films should be submitted on NTSC - Region 0 - discs. We require TWO (2) Discs that will not be returned. We will not pay to ship your submission or exhibition materials back to you (as that would be a large expense for our non-profit organization). Please properly label (see below).

IF SENDING BY DISC:

ONE FILM PER DISC: Please make sure there is only one film per DISC, multiple submissions require multiple entry fees and separate discs.

PRIZES: Crystal Trophies go to our top winners for each category with various Sponsored Festival prizes (prizes and values vary from year to year and aren't usually secured until closer to the event). The dollar value varies and usually comes in the form of industry packages, services, and gifts. Winners are never promised to receive prizes other than our top prize crystal trophies or anything specifically stated within that category, any additional prizes depend on our sponsors' generosity. Prizes differ each year and are usually secured closer to the festival dates. Past prizes have valued over $50,000 in post-production packages, filmmaker software, scholarships, sponsored goods, and more... We do not give cash prizes.

SUBTITLES: All non-English language films must be subtitled or dubbed in English.

ENTRY FEES: Are non-refundable for our non-profit organization.

LABELING: YOUR SUBMISSION MUST BE LABELED PROPERLY TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION.

LABELING FILMS: Put the WAB tracking number on the envelope you are using to send in the submission. Please insure your DISC(s) are clearly labeled on BOTH the DISC cover and the DISC itself in the below format:

FILM TITLE
TOTAL RUN TIME
CONTACT NAME and PHONE NUMBER
CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS
WAB TRACKING NUMBER

DO NOT PUT STICKER LABELS ON DISCS, as they peel off and get caught in the players. Professionally painted discs, Permanent Marker or LightScribe labeling are best to label your Discs.

Professionally mastered DISCS are preferred for ease of use in various brand-name DVD players.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PRESS MATERIALS, PRINTED BIOS, AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL ITEMS with your submissions. Not only will your film be viewed on its own merit by my multiple judges that won't see your printed materials, but it fills up the office with a lot of paper and product that we end up having to recycle or throw away.

AFTER SUBMISSION ACCEPTANCE: In order for your title to be included in the Festival, you must agree to provide the following materials to CFF within 14 days of acceptance:
1. For film, at least one screen shot of a scene within the project and key art/ poster (if available). Image must be in JPG or PNG format and AT LEAST 300 dpi resolution.
2. A trailer of the film emailed to us in .MOV format to promote your project on our website and social media (advantageous for short films as well).
3. Exhibition format of your project will depend on the venue we program your film into, delivered no later than 14 days after acceptance (various digital formats can be used in all venues, DCP and 35mm can only be used in one venue).
4. Copies of press releases and additional press materials after acceptance ONLY, please do not send with submissions before you're accepted. It fills up the office with a lot of paper and product we end up having to recycle or throw away.
5. If you are available to attend the festival with crew and/or talent, please let us know in your WAB cover letter. Once accepted into the festival, we will also send you an online form asking you who will be attending and how you are getting to the island.

CFF prefers HD digital formats for exhibiting High-Definition Films, or DCP if you're placed in our venue that can support DCP.

MAKE SURE YOUR EXHIBITION FILM DOES NOT HAVE A WATERMARK ON IT WHEN YOU SEND IT LIKE “Property of XYZ Films” - THIS COULD END UP BEING YOUR FINAL EXHIBITION FORMAT, and that's not how you want the audience viewing your film. This has happened in the past because it was our only option as a backup, but if it's the only file we have, we use it instead of cancelling your film's screening.

Participants agree that their film, clips from it and/or all other material related to their project may be used and/or published in the event program, on CFF's website, social media, and/or our media partners as well as for any other promotional purposes which CFF deems appropriate for the festival.

CFF holds no responsibility for lost or damaged media files. While the utmost care is taken with regard to your exhibition media, it is solely up to the filmmaker to take full responsibility (i.e. insurance). The cost of delivery and pick-up of all materials is the responsibility of the filmmaker. CFF WILL NOT PAY FOR MEDIA TO BE RETURNED, as that would be very costly for our non-profit organization with approximately 100 films accepted and exhibited annually.

If selected, all commercial/private property including all trademark/copyrighted materials shown or recorded on the project is the responsibility of the filmmaker. CFF will NOT take responsibility for any infringement of copy written materials.

No film projects with theatrical distribution and/or release dates, before or during the festival's programmed dates, will be eligible for submission, acceptance and/or exhibition at the event. This rule applies to all projects whether for free for public viewing (including Youtube, Vimeo, etc...) or a paid public audience (theatrical, DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD, etc..). Projects with distribution deals and release dates AFTER the festival dates are still eligible for submission and/or exhibition. Although we diligently track your film and do our own research, it is your responsibility to inform CFF if the project's release date(s) have changed and are in conflict with this rule, as it will either be eliminated from our program and/or taken out of competition at our discretion.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I have read and agree to the festival submission and participation guidelines and certify that I am authorized to submit this work to the Catalina Film Festival (CFF) and its subsidiaries. Any copyrighted materials included in the work have been legally cleared for use, and CFF is not responsible for any copyright infringement resulting from public screenings.
I hereby grant and assign to CFF and its successors and licensees the right to copy the entry in its entirety to facilitate technical operations of the festival, in and through any and all media formats now known or hereafter devised. All submissions will be retained by the Catalina Film Festival for pre-selection, film festival archives and — following written permission from the rights holder — event exhibition or a possible private exhibition with the Catalina Film Institute and/or Catalina Film Society (exclusive film festival subsidiaries).
The entrant acknowledges and agrees that all matters not covered by these regulations, and questions arising from them, will be decided by Festival organizers or programmers at their sole discretion.
Please read each individual categories qualifying rules and terms for the project you are submitting.